Machine for automatically producing clasp fastener strips



Feb. 26, 1935. 1,992,367

MACHINE FOR AUTOMATICALLY. PRODUCING CLASP FASTENER STRIPS Filed May 4,1952

5 Sheets-Shegt 1 F. FUCHS 1,992,367

MACHINE FOR AUTOMATICALLY PRODUCING CLASP FASTENER STRIPS Feb. 26. 1935.

s Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 4, 1932 ZZZ MACHINE FOR AUTOMATICALLY PRODUCING CLASP FASTENER STRII S Filed May 4, 1932 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 fWrM.

Feb. 26, 1935. F. FUCHS A 1,992,367

MACHINE FOR AUTOMATICALLY PRODUCING CLASP FASTENER STRIPS Filed May 4, 1932 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 if) jizz evzfor? Wm ZL l I! 4 v W.

FUCHS 1,992,367

MACHINE FOR AUTOMATICALLY PRODUCING CLASP FASTENER STRIPS I Feb. 26,- 1935.

Filed May 4, 1952 s Sheets-Sheet 5 able material (i. e. cloth) on which metal ele-' Patented Feb. 26, 1935 STAT ES PATENT caries Friedrich Fuchs, Frankfort-on-the-Main, Germany, assignor to firm Revag A.-G., Zuzwil,

Switzerland Application May 4, 1932, Serial No. 609,316 In Germany May 6, 1931 4 Claims. (Cl. 1131) This invention relates to a method and a machine for the complete automatic production of sliding clasp fastener strips. The strips with which the invention is concerned consist of suitments are mounted in spaced relationship, two of such strips together with the sliding clasp forming a so-called zip fastener as now commonly employed in articles of clothing, leather goods, and other articles. According to this method the clip-like metal elements which are provided with all the recesses or projections or recesses and projections necessary for such' a fastener, are stamped as fastening elements in the first operation in known manner from a metal band. The finished metal elements are arranged in a pile and fed in the second operation singly and consecutively to the cloth band running parallel to the die and placed thereon at uniform distances apart so that the arms or limbs of the elements engage over the bead-like edge of the band. In the third operation the individual elements are rolled tightly on to the band i. e. clamped to the band by a rolling operation.

The stamping and. the simultaneouspressing of the elements is effected in the hitherto usual manner in that a suitably shaped die stamps'the elements out of a metal band and presses them into a matrix, after which the metal strip is shifted forward a suitable distance. The shaping of the fastening elements is thus terminated. The finished elements drop into a chute, the cross section of which is of the shape of the elements, so that'the turning on edge of the elements in the chute is avoided. This chute is filled with finished elements before the next conveying movement commences, the elements lying flat piled one on the other or the one at. the side of the other and with the projections, if there are any, turned downwards.

This chute is closed at its lower end by a slide. On the pulling back of the slide the elements in the chute shift downwards a distance equal to the thickness of one element, the lowermost element coming in front of the slide. The

' direction of movement of the slide is such that the slide comes into contact with that side of the element lying in front of it which is opposite the arms and, during its further movement, the slide pushes this element with its arms directed towards the front through a channel extending at right angles to the chute and having, like the slide itself, a cross section corresponding to the width and the thickness of an element. During the forward movement of the slide the lower mouth of the chute is closed, so that the next following element cannot enter the channel prematurely. The next element can only enter the channel after the 'slide has delivered the previous element and has again been pulled right back. Only then will the mouth of the chute become free for the next element. Thus, a regulated feed of each individual element is obtained, so that no single elements can turn on edge.

The cloth strip, which is to receive the elements is arranged on the other side of the channel.

This strip is arranged perpendicularly to the direction of the channel and parallel to the chute and to the direction of movement of the stamping carriage carrying the die, with its plane in the direction of the chute and channel. The

appropriate edge of the cloth band, reinforced by a bead, is directed towards the channel mouth. As the elements coming out of the channel lie with their arms directed towards the front, they are pushed by the slide on to the cloth band so that the arms looselyembrace the bead on both sides.

The guide channel is of such a length, that the elements placed on the band can just completely leave the channel. A space is produced by the opposed gaps of two toothed rolls into which space the channel guide opens. The elements are subsequently always held at a uniform distance apart by the teeth of these rolls. The axes of these rolls are arranged in the direction of the channel and their. teeth move past the mouth of the channel. They are so arranged that their teeth do not intermesh, but lie opposite one another without touching. The metal element pushed out of the channel by the. slide is pushed into the space formed by the two opposite gaps between teeth of the rolls. This introduction of the metal elements is effected slightly above the plane in which the roll axes lie. The distance between the rolls is so chosen, that the root circles of the teeth on their central line are at a distance apart equal to the width of a clamped or rolled on element. Consequently, when the rolls rotate and thereby move on the elements, the arms of the metal elements are very gradually rolled tightly on to the bead of the cloth band engaging between them and thus securely clamped thereon. At the same time the cloth band is thereby compelled to move on always at exactly the required speed. Thus the distance between the individual elements is accurately maintained, which was nou possible with the machines hitherto known.

The tooth gaps are rounded on the root circle of the teeth so that the edges of the individual metal elements are rounded during the-rolling on, that is are freed from burs, whereby, when the finished fastener is in use, an easy opening and closing is obtained by means of the slide. The removing of the burs from the individual elements in a drum, as was hitherto necessary, can therefore be dispensed with.

In order to produce continually fastening strips of a certain required length,. the cloth band must be provided with spaces, which are free from metal fastening elements. According to a further feature of the invention there is provided for this purpose a device, which causes the cloth band to shift forward more rapidly for a short time, after the desired number of metal elements have been rolled thereon, so that a certain length of band remains free from metal elements. adjustable length and provided with a cam is; caused to move at the same time as the band. A mechanical or electric device causes the toothed rolls, which normally always rotate only a distance equal to one gap between teeth between every two slide movements, to rotate through a distance equal to a number of teeth, according to the size of the desired interval, after'the operation of the cam.

The machine operates so that during each stamping operation a finished element is at the same time pushed on to the cloth band between the teeth of the rolls by the slide, which is connected for this purpose to the stamping carriage in a. suitable manner. On the rising movement of the stamping carriage the slide isshifted back and allows a fresh element to drop out of the chute into the channel; at the same time the toothed rolls are rotated one tooth by means of a pawl so that the next gap between teeth is set ready for receiving the next following elements. Thus, the elements previously inserted and slipped on to the bead of the cloth band are rolled together somewhat more. Owing to the further movement of the elements the cloth band also moves a corresponding distance forward and presents exactly the correct point to the channel mouth for receiving the next following element. When the desired length of the fastening strip has been produced, the device is rendered operative, so that the cloth band travels more rapidly. Thus the section of cloth strip free from metal elements is produced. A machine working according to the above described method is illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings, in which: I

Fig. 1 shows the machine in front elevation.

Fig. 1a shows a plan view of Fig. 1.

Fig. 2 is a section through the chute and the channel.

Fig. 3 shows a view of the serted element.

Fig. 4 shows the locking pawl arrangement for the toothed roll feed.

Fig. 5 illustrates the construction of the rapid rolls with an infeed device for forming the portion of the strip free from elements. 7

Fig. 6 isa diagrammatic view of a modified form of apart of the machine.

Fig. '7 is a view showing the metal elements in three different working stages While being rolled on to-the cloth band;

Fig. 8 is a view schematically illustrating .the operation of rollirig the elements on to the band;

In order to attain this, a chain of Fig. 9 is a plan view of Fig. 8 showing the band 6 in place between the rolling elements; and

Fig. shows a detail on a larger scale.

The various devices are mounted on a, base 1. 2 is the main driving wheel which is mounted on a shaft 7 and is adapted to rotate it by means of a clutch. The stamping carriage 3 receives a reciprocatory vertical movement from the shaft '7 by means of a crank pin and a connecting rod 4. On the lower end of the stamping carriage 3 a cutting block 5 is arranged. The metal band 8 from which the elements are to be formed is fed through the die 5a situated under the cutting block and moved on by a feed mechanism. This feeding mechanism consists of two discs 9 and 9a, a spring 10 and a driving chain 11, connected to the shaft '7. During the rotation of the shaft 7, the chain 11, which is connected to the shaft 11a. on which the disc 9 is mounted, rotates the disc 9 and through the band 8 (which passes between them) the disc 9a also, thereby feeding at the same time the metal band. The spring 10 imparts the necessary pressure to the disc 9. On

the downward movement of the stamping carfrictional engagement of the discs 9 and 9a., as

long as its advancing movement is unchecked, which may be effected in any suitable manner known to those skilled in the art.

. A slide 14 is arranged to move past the lower end of the chute 12 (see Fig. 2) in synchronism with the reciprocating movement of the stamping carriage for pushing one element 13 at a time from the chute'l2 into a channel 15. The operation of the slide 14 is effected in the following manner:

A rack 16 is fixed on the stamping carriage 3, and this rack meshes with a toothed wheel 17, rigidly connected with a toothed wheel 18. The toothed wheel 13 meshes in a rack 19, on which the slide 14 is fixed. During the up and down movements of the carriage 3, the rack 19 carries along the slide 14 and moves it backwards or forwards in the horizontal direction according to adjustment. During its forward movement the slide 14 carries along the lowermost of the elements piled in the chute 12 and atthe same time closes the lower end of the chute 12 so as to prevent a premature feeding of the elements situated above the removed element. After the slide 14 has delivered the element 13 forward to the toothed rolls, hereinafter described, it returns into its initial position as a result of the movement of the carriage 3 and again uncovers the mouth of the chute 12 to the channel 15 so that the next element can enter this channel. The finished element coming from the channel 15 is gradually rolled on to the bead on the edge of the cloth band 6 which is'to be provided with metal elements by two toothed rolls 20 and 21, between which the head of the cloth band 6 travels tangentially (see Figs. 8 and 9). The cloth band 6 is brought to two discs 24 and 24a bythe guide device 23 (Figs. 1 to 3, 8 and 9) and fed by thesediscs to the two toothed rolls '20 and 21 to which they are fixed, the band is always held in the proper lateral position; The

peripheries of the discs 24, 2411 are spaced apart substantially the thickness of the band 6.

The rolls 20, 21 are of a c-onstruction'similar to a spur gear wheel, but do not interengage with their teeth. Their ou'ter peripheries are also spaced apart substantially the thickness of the band 6 and they are, always maintained .in an angular relationship with tooth opposite tooth and gap opposite gap, during their rotation in op-' posite directions. The distance between centers of the rolls is so chosen that the radial dimension of the recess formed by the two opposite gaps on the common center line of the rolls is equal to the lateral dimension of an element 13 in its condition firmly pressed on to the bead of the band 6.

The rolls 20, 21 are maintained in the described angular relationship by connecting the disc 24, 24a to two intermeshing toothed wheels 25 and 26. Thus, when these wheels are turned, the rolls 20, 21 are turned in unison therewith in the directions of the arrows indicated in Fig. 8. The topmost element 13 on the band 6, as indicated in this figure, is the one last fed to the rolls by the slide 14. This is illustrated in Fig. 7 which shows three metal elements, from the element 13 down, in different working stages while being rolled on the cloth band. This element is disposed directly opposite the channel 15 with its lateral dimension unchanged the distance between root circles f of the rolls at this place being suflicient for receiving the element between two opposite gaps in its original size. On the rotation of the rolls continuing, the arms of the element are gradually approached on each other by the distance betweenroot circles constantly diminishing, until in the position ofthe element on the central line the arms are tightly pressed on the bead of the band 6. In this manner, the metal elements are actually rolled on to the band.

Away from this central position the elements are more andmore liberated from engagement by the rolls 20, 21 until they are finally altogether released therefrom. By these means a very exact spacing of the elements on the band is automatically obtained, so that no readjustment is necessary. Moreover, as the tooth gaps are rounded on the root circles, the corresponding edges of the elements are also rounded which results in a very neat and clean work dispensing'with any subsequent removal of burs. The feed of the toothed rolls is effected in the following manner:

A stop on the stamping carriage 3 actuates in descending a lever 29. This lever 29 is oscillatable around a pivot 31 and lifts a pawl'holder 32 with the pawl 33 mounted thereon, thereby rotating a ratchet wheel 27, keyed on a. shaft 28 and rotates the toothed roll 20, which is connected to the shaft 28, the distance of one tooth. During the ascending movement of the carriage 3 the lever 29 is liberated and returns by gravity into its initial position together with the pawl holder 32 and the pawl 33. This operation is continually repeated. I

The accelerated or rapid feed for supplying a length of cloth band not to be fitted with metal elements is effected by means of a chain 34, which can be lengthened or shortened according to the length of the fastener'to be produced, and which carries a cam (as shown on a larger scale in Fig.'10). The adjustment of the length of the i chain 34 depends on the number of elements to be included in a continuous'series on the band 6. When, for example, it is desired to produce fastener strips, ten inches long, the length of this chain must be so adjusted that the cam 35 performs a complete annular path together with the chain 34 during approximately every hundred blanking out operations. This chain 34 runs on a toothed rim 36 (Fig. 10) rigidly connected to a toothed wheel 37. The toothed wheel 37 meshes with a toothed wheel 38. Thus the clutch hereinafter described is rendered operative.

The clutch device (Fig. 5) consists of clutch elements 40 and 41, disengagement discs 42 and 43, a bell crank lever 44 pivotally mounted on the base 1, a stop device comprising a ball 45 influenced by a spring 46 and an abutment pin 47, shaft 48, driving wheel 49 and toothed wheel 50. The operation is as follows:

The driving wheel 49 is positively operatively connected to the shaft 7 by means of a chain 54, for rotating the shaft 48 and with it the clutch element 41 and the disc 43, keyed thereon. This rotation is maintained during the whole time of working of the machine. When the cam 35 on the chain 34 is raised into contact with the lever 39, the latter is raised also to lift in' turn the horizontal arm of the bell crank lever 44, which is in contact with it, by which operation the clutch element 40 is shifted forward on' the shaft 51 in the direction towards the other clutch element 41. Thus the two clutch elements 40 and 41 are moved into engagement, so that the shaft 51 is rotated by the shaft 48 by means of the two said clutch elements, which form a claw clutch. During "the rotation of the shaft 51, the cloth band and with it the chain 34 and the cam 35 are moved on with accelerated speed through the intermediary of the trains ofv gear wheels 50, 50a and 56, 25, 26, while the pawl 33 drags idly along the toothed circumference of the ratchet wheel 2'7 in the rearward direction, whereby the lever 39 drops down into its initial position. The bell crank lever 44, however, remains in its position last assumed, until it is restored by the disengagement disc 42. This disc is loosely mounted on the clutch-element 40 but so as to be adapted to shift axially together with this element by means of the abutment pin 4'7, while it is at the same time kept from rota-' tion by thispin. In distinction from this the disc 43 is keyed on the shaft 48, while the shaft 51 may rotate relatively to the disc 42. While the two claw clutch elements 40 and 41 engage, the cam 53, carried by the disc 42, is pushed in the path of the cam 52, as best seen in the fragmentary bottom view in the lower part of Fig. 5, on the disc 43, so that the cam 52, which is in rotation, shifts back the cam 53 and with it the disc 42 and consequently also the clutch element 40 andthe bell crank lever 44, by en-' gagement of the inclined guide faces of the two cams. In this way the claw clutch 40, 41 remains put in gear only during one revolution of the shaft 48.

The bell crank lever 44 is prevented from shifting out of position at a wrong time by means of a stop ball 45 which is pressed by a spring 46 against the edge of an enlargement '75v at the lower end of the vertical arm of this bell crank lever. The ball 45 engages in either of two depressions' in that edge, thus securing the bell crank lever 44 from shifting out of its respective positions of adjustment. The shaft 51, on which the toothed wheel 50 is, keyed, is only rotated by the shaft 48, when the clutch elements 40 and 41 are in engagement. The toothed wheel 50 meshes with the toothed Wheel 5011 (Fig. 1), which is connected to the toothed wheel 56 by a shaft 55, the wheel 56 lying behind in this figure opposite the wheel 25. The toothed wheel 56 in turn rotates the toothed wheel 25, which is connected to the shaft 28 on which the disc 24 and the roll 20 are keyed. The arrangement is such that this entire operation for effecting the rapid feed occurs during a half revolution of the driving wheel 2 and therefore betwen the presentation of successive elements to the two toothed rolls, for which a full revolution of this wheel is required.

An electric device for producing the gaps free from metal elements on the cloth strips may be employed and an example of such a device is shown in Fig. 6. The normal feed of the toothed rolls is eifected, mechanically as before, by a ratchet mechanism, comprising a ratchet wheel 2'7 and a pawl 33, actuated by the rod 32a, which, for example can be raised by a cam 68 of a separate control shaft 62, driven from the main shaft. One of the shafts, on which the toothed rolls are keyed, carries the chain wheel 36, which drives the chain 34, provided with the cam 35. According to the length of the chain, the cam closes a contact 69 after a certain length of time so that an electromagnet 57 is excited and puts a spring 59 under tension as a result of the attraction of the armature 58. Thus the pawl 60 (as in the case of the normal feed by the pawl 33) slides over the teeth of the ratchet wheel 61. If the contact is broken at an accurately adjustable time, the spring 59 with the pawl 60 rotates the ratchet wheel 61 through an angle adjustable by the abutment positions at 63 and 64. This 'rotation' is transmitted to the shaft 28, which carries one of the toothed rolls, by means of a toothed wheel transmission comprising toothed wheels 65 and 66. In order to prevent the rotation of the shaft 28 during the sliding back of the pawls 33 and 60, a stationary locking pawl 67 is provided, which engages on reaching the upper position limit of the two other pawls and ensures that always two toothed gaps are situated in front of the channel mouth.

I claim:

1. In a machine for producing fastenerstrips of flexible bands and metallic fastening members, in combination, means for guiding a flexible band through said machine with a portion thereof vertically disposed, a device for stamping out clip-like elements as metallic fastening members from a stock metal band, a device for conveying the stamped clip-like metal elements successively towards the vertical portion of said band for mounting said elements on said portion, two toothed clamping rolls arranged in peripherally opposed relationship and spaced apart to adapt said'vertical portion of said band to tangentially pass therebetween and their root circles spaced the width of a definitely secured metal element, a pair of intermeshing spur gears rigidly connected to said clamping rolls for driving the same with their-teeth and tooth spaces always in registry, a guide channel arranged in said conveying device for said metal elements with its mouth I opening on two juxtaposed tooth spaces of said clamping rolls a small distance above the plane passing through the centers of said rolls, and ac.- tuating means for said pair of intermeshing spur gears for causing said clamping rolls to perform a rolling motion on the clip portions of said metal elements to gradually tighten said elements on said band and for feeding said band in positively controlled steps across the mouth of said guide mounting said elements on said portion, two

toothed clamping rolls arranged in peripherally opposed relationship and spaced apart to adapt said vertical portion of said band to tangentially pass therebetween and their root circles spaced the width of a definitely secured metal element, a toothed rim on each clamping roll confining spaces between the teeth thereofthat are rounded on the root circle of the roll, a pair of intermeshing spur gears rigidly connected to said clamping rolls for driving the same with their teeth and tooth spaces always in registry, a guide channel arranged in said conveying device for said metal elements with its mouth opening on two juxtaposed tooth spaces of said clamping rolls a small distance above the plane passing through the centers of said rolls, and actuating means for .said pair of intermeshing spur gears for causing said clamping rolls to perform a rolling motion on the clip portions of said metal elements to gradually tighten said elements on said band and to round the individual metal elements and to free them from burs with the rounded portions of their tooth spaces and for feeding said band in positively controlled steps across the mouth of said guide channel of said conveying device for said metal elements.

3. In a machine for producing fastener strips of flexible bands and metallic fastening mem--, bers, in combination, means for guiding a flexible band through said machine with a portion thereof vertically disposed, a device for stamping out clip-like elements as metallic fastening members from a stock metal band, a magazine for the stamped clip-like metal elements, a device for conveying the stamped clip-like metal elements towards the vertical portion of said band for mounting said elements on said portion, two toothed clamping rolls arranged in peripherally opposed relationship and spaced apart to adapt said vertical portion of said band to tangentially pass therebetween and their root circles spaced the width of a definitely secured metal element, a pair of intermeshing spur gears rigidly connected to said clamping rolls for driving the same with their teeth and tooth spaces always in registry, a guide channel arranged in said conveying device for said metal elements .with its mouth opening on two juxtaposed tooth spaces of said clamping rolls a small distance above the plane passing through the centers of said rolls, means cooperating with said guide channel for successively conveying said metal of flexible bands and metallic fastening members, in combination, means for guiding a flexible band through said machine with a portion thereof vertically disposed, a device for stamping out clip-like elements as metallic fastening members from a stock-metal band, a device for conveying the stamped clip-like metal elements for the respective fastening portion of said strip successively towards said portion, a device for feeding said fastener strip across the path for the arriving metal elements to the extent of said portion in positively controlled steps, means provided in said conveying device for mounting a metal element on said strip at each step, means provided in said feeding device for said strip for securing the clip portions of said metal elements after their mounting on said strip, driving means for said feeding device for said strip, a chain provided with a cam and operatively connected with said driving means, a gear for accelerating the speed of said strip, an escapement mechanism for actuating said speed accelerating gear, an electromagnet, a spring-loaded armature for said electromagnet in driving association with said escapement, mechanism, and electrical means controlled by said cam on said chain for rendering said spring-loaded armature of said electromagnet operative during the interstice between two portions provided with successive elements of said strip while said driving means are rendered inoperative.

' FRIEDRICH FUCHS. 

